As Ajaan Chah once said, if you could gain Awakening simply by endurance, chickens would have attained Awakening a long time ago — they can sit for really long hours. You have to use your wisdom. When something seems burdensome, why is it burdensome? Exactly what is it placing a burden on? And why do you want to identify with what’s being burdened? Can you learn //not// to identify with it? A good way to learn these lessons is to force yourself into situations where you’ve got to face this difficulty head on. Okay, it’s there, it’s a problem, and try to use your ingenuity to get around it. It’s when you’re cornered that you realize that you’ve got to find a way out. And that you can.
~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu